MSHP: 12 die in holiday traffic crashes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 12 people died on Missouri roads during the four-day Christmas holiday.

The patrol said Monday that troopers investigated 306 traffic crashes in which all 12 fatalities occurred and 128 people were injured. In 2007, troopers reported 499 mishaps, which included 142 people and four of the state's eight fatalities.

On Christmas Day, four people died in a two double-fatality accidents.

Eighty-three people were arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated through the period, compared to 92 in 2007.

The patrol's counting period spanned from 6 p.m. Christmas Eve to 11:59 p.m. Sunday.